Halong Bay regarded as one of 2011’s hot spots

Posted by admin on January 20, 2011 under Halong Bay Cruises, News | Be the First to Comment

Travel experts have revealed their tips for the year on The Australian. Halong Bay in Vietnam is regarded as one of top spots for those on the fly.

Neil Rodgers, head of marketing, Adventure World

“The best-value destination is Vietnam. Adventure World has already seen an increase of 36 per cent on last year’s booking numbers. Halong Bay cruises start from only $230 for two days. Fast-growing value-for-money destinations include Burma and The Philippines.”

Susanne Cawthray, manager/owner Harvey World Travel, Moonee Ponds, Victoria

“The US is selling well and the reason is twofold: the strengthening of the Australian dollar and because the airfares are so much cheaper. You can go to the US for about $1400; it used to be about $2400. With the introduction of V Australia and other carriers on the route, Qantas has become more competitive. Phuket is also popular and Thai Airways International will reintroduce direct flights from Melbourne to Phuket in April.”

David Goldman, general manager, Goldman Travel Corporation, Sydney

“Hawaii is enjoying a renaissance for family travel. We’ve had a lot of bookings there, especially for Easter 2011. For honeymooners, French Polynesia is exceptional — everyone wants an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora lagoon. Canal and river cruises in Europe are also very popular. For adventure travel, Egypt is the winner. And Cambodia is wonderful, like liquid gold.”

Kate Tate, national marketing manager, Trafalgar Tours

“Italy remains a perennial favourite and our Italian regional itineraries are the most popular. We are also seeing a spike in popularity for eastern European destinations, including the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia.”

Andrew Yell, general manager product, sales and marketing, Creative Holidays

“The US consistently rates as one of Creative Holidays’ top-performing destinations. With the strength of the dollar, it has peaked further.”

Lorraine Sharp, managing director, Insight Vacations

“Holidays to the US and Canada are on the rise and many of the tours in our 2011 program have decreased in price. The eastern Mediterranean — Turkey, Egypt, Greece and Jordan – is also attracting a lot of attention.”

Nicole Moy, managing director, Contiki Holidays

“Contiki caters exclusively for the 18-35s market, which is unlike any other demographic, and Europe remains a rite of passage for young travelers. The biggest trend we’ve seen recently is travelers booking longer tours to make the most of their money and their time abroad.”

Lisa Ferrari, travel.com.au general manager – brand

“Los Angeles – with the strong dollar and airfares under $1000, the US is no longer an expensive destination. New Zealand is one of the most sought-after destinations for 2011 and Brazil is a bucket-list destination for many travelers. The Philippines for untapped beaches and great shopping bargains, and India, where interest has been growing for a number of years.”

John Molinaro, general manager, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: “The all-inclusive nature of a river cruise means once a guest pays for their holiday and steps aboard, they will not need to put their hand in their pocket again.”

Barry Mayo, chairman of TravelManagers and former chief executive of Harvey World Travel

“Bali, Fiji, Phuket, Vanuatu and New Zealand will continue to appeal and perform even more strongly. The ‘in’ destination for Asia in 2011 will be Vietnam; like Bali and Phuket, it is both inexpensive and excellent value. The Philippines is a sleeper destination: cheap and good value, but suffering from an absence of promotion. The US and Canada will do well but early indications are that the big winner in 2011 will be Europe, with river cruising in particularly high demand. Britain, Ireland, France and Italy will all continue to perform strongly, with increasing interest in Spain.”

Source: The Australian